Since then, we have coordinated 32 flights of healing and hope so Stephen could travel 7,000+ miles to access medical care he needs to survive. In addition to cancer care and treatment, Stephen also is receiving medical care for degenerative bone disease in his hips as a result of the chemotherapy.

Through the efforts of our Mission/Flight Coordinators, volunteer pilots and Earth Angels, Stephen’s life has been changed as we continue to provide the highest quality care for patients needing medical care and treatment.

Flights like Stephen’s continue to be made possible by the generous support of our sponsors & foundations, like the Maine Cancer Foundation  – along with long-term partnerships with commercial aviation providers – such as Cape Air.

Stephen, like all our patients, is a cherished member of the Angel Flight NE family. Every day, we receive calls for assistance from patients who need support at their most trying of times in their healthcare journeys. Our dedication to our patients goes beyond the flights as we are always there for our patients as they grow and heal.

The post Take a Moment to Meet Stephen ~ Harrington, ME appeared first on Angel Flight NE.

Thankfully another Angel Flight NE patient heard of Remy’s need and suggested to call Angel Flight NE. Since that first call in 2021, our Mission/Flight Coordination Team has scheduled 14 missions for Remy and his family to travel to and from California on JetBlue, who generously donates unlimited seats on their aircraft. Patients, like Remy, can receive the care he needs to survive.

His mother, Lindsay, shared the following recently: 
“We are so grateful for the medical treatment our child Remy has been able to participate in! Remy was born with severe, life-threatening food allergies, which has dominated his (and our) lives, limiting not just the foods he can eat, but also the experiences he can have. We are close to two years into his five-year treatment, and did have recent excitement in Remy’s treatment! At his last visit, he tolerated enough peanut to eat foods cooked in peanut oil and packaged goods that may have experienced cross-contaminated with peanuts. While eating specific foods has never been our treatment goal, it is exciting to have this step along the way. Our dream is that by the end of the program Remy will be able to be safe around all foods, allowing him to do things like spend a weekend at a friend’s house, travel abroad, and make life decisions that aren’t driven by food allergies. The support of Angel Flight NE and JetBlue has made this life-changing treatment possible for Remy and our family, and we are beyond grateful!”

Our sponsors and foundations, such as Hasbro, along with our long-term partnerships with commercial aviation providers like JetBlue, generously make flights like Remy’s possible.

Remy and his family, like all our patients, remain cherished members of the Angel Flight NE family. Every day, we receive calls for assistance from patients who need support at their most trying of times in their healthcare journeys. Our dedication to our patients goes beyond the flights as we remain always there for our patients as they grow and heal.

The post Take a Moment to Meet Remy ~ Montpelier, VT appeared first on Angel Flight NE.

For every trip, the Angel Flight NE team remains there to ensure that our patients, like Cooper, experience peace of mind during their healthcare journeys. During his most recent Angel Flight, our volunteer pilot Jim received a special request from Cooper, “Could you fly over my school so my classmates can wave to me?”. Jim was more than happy to help put a smile on Cooper’s face.

His mother, Lori, shared the following recently: 
“Cooper was born with complex medical conditions, including polymicrogyria, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, cataracts, a rare genetic disorder, and is intellectually disabled… necessitating approximately seven trips a year to BCH from mid-coast Maine. Over the past seven years, Angel Flight NE has flown Cooper and me to BCH, while also arranging ground transportation.

The kindness and support of the Angel Flight NE pilots and ground crew in getting Cooper to his appointments alleviated a layer of stress, allowing us to focus on Cooper’s medical care. The pilots who fly Cooper make him laugh, they get us home safely, and make life easier for us. When people hear about Cooper flying with Angel Flight NE, they often think there is a catch, or question how it’s possible. The answer is always the same: there is no catch, just kind people doing kind things.”

Through the generosity of The Alexion Charitable Foundation along with our AFNE Volunteer Pilots and Earth Angels, the accomplishment of Cooper’s flight of healing and hope allowed him to access the medical care he needs.

The post Take a Moment to Meet Cooper ~ Hope, ME appeared first on Angel Flight NE.

Please take a moment to read about Dwight’s healthcare journey requiring him to travel from Ashland, ME to Boston, MA for specialized treatment for a rare form of blood cancer.

A little more than 5 years ago, Dwight received the news that he has a rare form of blood cancer called “Myelodysplastic Syndrome”. His medical team in Maine highly recommended he receive treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston for the best chances of survival.

Learning not only that you have a rare form of blood cancer, but also be told that your best chances of survival is nearly 400 hundreds miles away can also be life-altering as well. Both Dwight and his wife, Candy, immediately worried how they would travel such a distance given Candy herself was facing a health crisis and was unable to drive long distance. Then a friend told them about Angel Flight NE’s free air transportation services and their despair quickly turned to relief and hope immediately after their first call to our Mission/Flight Coordination Team.

Candy, Dwight’s wife, recently shared the following note: 
“Everyone at Angel Flight NE has meant the world to my husband and me!  When Dwight was first diagnosed with a blood cancer back in the Spring of 2018, a panic button was immediately activated. We faced a HUGE transportation burden because we live in northern Maine, and my vision for driving is extremely limited. Thankfully Angel Flight NE was right there to help us from our first call asking for assistance. Your support and caring helped us navigate through this difficult and challenging journey. We have been blessed to meet 28 amazing, compassionate volunteer pilots and numerous “Earth Angels” over the course of our 5 year journey. Your mission coordination team has gone out of their way to accommodate our every need and assure us that they are here for us as long and as often as we need your help. Not having to worry about how we would get to Boston and back has been a gift that we will never take for granted. Everyone at your organization has been compassionate, patient, flexible, and loyal folks that are there for us. A special thanks to  Angel Flight NE’s mission/flight coordinators – Georgie & Jonathan/ As well as Earth Angel, Rod F. Each person from Angel Flight NE has been amazing!”

We are able to transform patients’ lives – like Dwight and Candy’s  – who need to access life-saving medical care with the amazing support of our compassionate, giving volunteer pilots along with the generous support of our commercial aviation partners and charitable foundations, like the Maine Cancer Foundation who has partnered with Angel Flight NE by providing us with a grant to ensure distance is never an obstacle for Maine residents in need of specialized cancer care and treatment.

As with all of our patients, Dwight, Candy and their family will always have a place in our heart and will remain a part of the Angel Flight NE extended family. We continually assure them that we are here during Dwight’s healthcare journey for as long and as often as he needs our assistance to access the vital care and treatment he needs.

Mission/Flight requests – like Dwight’s – happen daily and we are privileged to have the opportunity to not only fly but deeply care for all who turn to us for help at difficult times in their lives.  We are here for him for as long and as often as he needs our help and to ensure the best possible outcome. Please keep Dwight and Candy along with all of our patients in your thoughts and prayers.

We are proudly celebrating our 27th year of service having scheduled over 108,000 flights for patients who have traveled  more than 15 million miles to 750+ medical facilities throughout the United States since our founding in 1996.

Thank You and God Bless You for your support and belief in our healing mission.

With your help, we can ensure that distance is never an obstacle for patients, like Dwight and the thousands of others we assist yearly.

Warmest regards,
Fr. Larry & the AFNE Staff

The post Maine Cancer Patient Provided 90+ Free Flights to Boston appeared first on Angel Flight NE.

This disease affected her childhood greatly. Unfortunately, Siena couldn’t participate in normal activities of a child like running, jumping, certain sports, sitting in hard chairs & floors and even sleeping comfortably. Siena started seeing a pediatric orthopedic specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital almost ten years ago and has been monitored with x-rays until her growth plates closed in her hip.

Angel Flight NE was introduced to Siena when she was required to have surgery last December.

Her mother shared after her most recent trip:
“We are so grateful that we found Angel Flight NE. I can’t thank you enough for flying us to Boston Children’s ! What a gift to us that we could go stress free from travel! The pilots and ground angels are so incredibly kind and supportive. We can’t thank you enough.”

Siena will have monthly trips to Boston for post-op and possibly a second surgery in four to six months to remove the screws in her hip.

As with all of our patients, Siena forever has a place in our heart and will remain a part of the Angel Flight NE family.

Mission/Flight requests – like hers – happen daily and we are privileged to have the opportunity to not only fly but deeply care for all who turn to us for help at difficult times in their lives.  We are here for her for as long and as often as she needs our help and to ensure the best possible outcome.

Thank You and God Bless You for your support and belief in our healing mission.

With your help, we can ensure that distance is never an obstacle for patients, like Siena and the thousands of others we assist yearly.

Warmest regards,
Fr. Larry & the AFNE Staff

The post Maine Resident Flown Free to Receive Care for Rare Disease appeared first on Angel Flight NE.

Our Thankful Thursday Newsletter on February 2, 2023 was dedicated to the healthcare journey of 4 year old Brittany from South Hadley, MA.

When Brittney had an ear ache last February that would not go away, her parents booked a sick visit and brought her to the doctor thinking she had an ear infection.  After an exam, it was discovered that Brittany did not have an ear infection but was presenting symptoms of something more serious. After more testing, it was discovered she has cancer which had metastasized.

To care for Brittney’s illness which requires frequent visits to the hospital and traveling out of state for specialized cancer care, both her parents are unable to work. So when our Mission Coordination Team at Angel Flight NE told her parents we could help, it was a blessing in so many ways. Last month, we had the privilege of supporting Brittney and her parents with free air transportation so they could travel via JetBlue from Boston to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for a critical consultation with a specialist.

Earlier this week, Brittney entered a second cycle of a new chemotherapy protocol and will have an MRI to see how her treatment is working. Brittney will need continued support as she travels for more treatments, and we have assured her parents that Angel Flight NE will be here to assist them for as long and as often as they need our help.

This is just one example of how our mission with the support of our amazing volunteer pilots and corporate partners, along with you, is making a difference in the lives of our patients and their families. We are truly blessed!

All of our sponsors are absolutely amazing including our commercial aviation partners – JetBlue and Cape Air. They not only generously donate unlimited seats on their aircraft but embrace our patients and families with love and support. For those patients diagnoses with a rare disease such as Brittney’s, the Alexion Charitable Foundation is here to help. And with the support and help Hasbro, we ae able to send along some extra joy with unlimited toys to provide to the children we fly including Mr. Aviation Potato Head.

Please keep beautiful Brittney and her family in your prayers. As with all our patients, they will forever be a part of the Angel Flight NE family. Mission/Flight requests – like Brittney’s – are requested daily and we are blessed to be here for them especially during the crisis they are currently facing.

Thank You and God Bless You for your support and belief in our healing mission.

With your help and belief in our mission, we are able to ensure that distance is never an obstacle for patients, like Brittney, to access the specialized medical care she needs. Please know I continue to pray for you and your loved ones – Angel Flight NE is here to help you in any way possible. We continue to provide our services to children and adults who need to access life-saving medical care before, during & after treatment.

Warmest regards,
Fr. Larry & the AFNE Staff

The post Child with Cancer Transported from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania for Treatment appeared first on Angel Flight NE.

I would like you to meet Eric, a wonderful man from Milton, VT required to travel to Dana Farber for treatment. Eric is treated for a blood cancer that will require a transplant in the next couple months; the transplant has mandatory follow ups & as little exposure as possible to outside factors.

Luckily, Eric was referred to Angel Flight NE through Dana Farber when faced with the troubling task of driving 10+ hours round-trip. Since October of last year – we have coordinated twelve trips for Eric & Chrissy to travel to treatment.

Eric’s wife, Chrissy, shared the following:
“Driving from northern Vermont to multiple cancer treatments in Boston adds massive stress and exhaustion to an already difficult time for a family with a cancer patient. Angel Flight NE has quite literally come to our rescue several times with transportation to and from appointments.

Everyone at Angel Flight NE, from the mission coordinators to the pilots and earth angels, have been a blessing. They are patient, kind, generous, and always in good spirits. We are beyond thankful for everyone who plays a role in making Angel Flight NE’s mission happen.”

We are always so grateful to our volunteer pilots for generously donating their time, fuel, planes and compassion and the Maine Cancer Foundation who has been partnering with Angel Flight NE for over 4 years now to ensure that the cost of travel is never a hurdle to appropriate treatment.  Transformational missions, like Eric’s, are truly uplifting and inspiring much like the exquisite pictures captured during Eric’s most recent Angel Flight shown to the right.

As with all of our patients, Eric is forever a part of the our Angel Flight NE family. Mission/Flight requests – like Eric’s – happen daily and we are privileged to have the opportunity to not only fly but deeply care for all who turn to us for help at difficult times in their lives.

We are here for Eric & Chrissy for as long and as often as they need our help and to ensure the best possible outcome.

Thank You and God Bless You for your support and belief in our healing mission. With your help and belief in our mission, we are able to ensure that distance is never an obstacle for patients, like Eric.

Warmest regards,
Fr. Larry & the AFNE Staff

The post VT Resident Transported to Dana Farber Boston for Vital Cancer Care appeared first on Angel Flight NE.

Within this week’s edition of Thankful Thursday, we’d like to share with you another amazing mission that occurred in October 2022! Here at Angel Flight NE, we are carrying the holiday spirit into the New Year by sharing adorable Gavin & his amazing pilot.

Gavin was born with a rare disease that caused an inappropriate secretion of insulin; this diagnosis required treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia at only 3 months old. After surgery, both his family and the doctor felt Gavin was too fragile to travel home on a commercial flight. Luckily, they were referred to Angel Flight NE and our amazing volunteer pilot, Shakeel, based in Maine and always willing to fly families in need, flew Gavin and his parents home safely especially given Gavin’s immune system is compromised.

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Gavin’s aunt shared the following after their trip:
Dear Georgie,
Words alone cannot express our gratitude and appreciation for all you – and your colleagues at Angel Flight NE – do to assist and make possible these extraordinary gifts of life – saving and game changing medical flights.

You all are angels in street clothing! Gavin and our entire family thanks you for his flight on October 10 from Philly to Logan!

With utmost gratitude,
Sue & Neil Russell

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The family has follow-up appointments scheduled, and we have assured them that Angel Flight NE will be here to assist them for as long and as often as they need our help. This is just one example of how our mission with the support of our amazing volunteer pilots, along with you, is making a difference in the lives of our patients and their families. We are truly blessed!

As with all of our patients and their families, they will be forever a part of the Angel Flight NE family. Mission/Flight requests – like theirs – are requested daily and we feel blessed to be here for our patients.

Thank You and God Bless You for your support & belief in our healing mission.

With your help and belief in our mission, we are able to ensure that distance is never an obstacle for patients, like Gavin, to access the specialized medical care they need.

Warmest regards,
Fr. Larry & the AFNE Staff

The post 5 Month Old Travels Home to Boston After Surgery in PA to Treat Rare Disease appeared first on Angel Flight NE.

The post Medical transportation made easier with Angel Flight appeared first on Angel Flight NE.